CES 2019: How Long Will It Be Before Big Brands Sell Direct?

CES was supposed to be the show that retailers went to see the latest in consumer electronics and appliances, but what the 2019 show is shaping up as is the show where big brands talk about devices communicating with each other, selling direct, ordering your next product online via a command to Alexa or Google or at Samsung Bixby.

Both LG at last nights keynote and Samsung at their CES press conference talked about connectivity and devices that can order products direct even connecting direct to Amazon.

LG’s president and CTO, I.P. Park, talked more about the future of artificial intelligence and robots than the LG products he expects retailers to sell.
CLOi LG’s robot joined him on stage as he outlined how LG plans to use AI make lives easier.

He touched on LG’s current use of AI in its products like its OLED TVs, which use AI to automatically optimize display and sound settings for whatever you’re watching, their devices also do a support call direct to LG if anything goes wrong.

He said that AU will be integrated into various aspects of our lives, from our homes to our cars to our shopping and dining experiences.

For example, your fridge will tell you when you’re running low on milk and then order some on your behalf (taking into consideration whether you like low-fat milk, of course). You’ll get a virtual fitting when you look in the mirror ordered direct from an online store associated with LG.

Your washing machine will know how long to wash your clothes and what settings you like. Self-driving vehicles will figure out the optimum route based on the traffic situation, meaning you can kick back and watch movies or shop using giant gesture-controlled screens all around the vehicle.

At their press conference earlier in the day the Company talked up its artificial intelligent system called LG ThinQ, which is designed to make proactive recommendations based on someone’s personal preferences.

At the Samsung press event it was all about Bixby the Samsung house brand voice activation system.

Both Samsung via their Harman relationship and LG talked up their investments in automotive technology.

Park said LG is working with Adient, a company specializing in automotive seating, to develop AI-enabled smart seats that’ll recognize you and adjust to your personal seating preferences.

He also said LG will use its webOS interface, which is already used in its TVs, for future in-car entertainment experiences.

LG has also teamed up with Qualcomm to one day enable functionalities such as allowing vehicles to communicate with one another and share perceptions of road conditions. Harman a Samsung owned company is doing the same.

Durga Malladi, senior vice president of 4G and 5G at Qualcomm, said the companies are working to make 5G a reality in production vehicles as early as 2021.
“AI is the future,” Park said, “but only if we can achieve true intelligence.”

At both the Samsung press event and at the LG keynote there was less emphasis on the products the Companies are making but more about the connectivity of the devices.

David Richards has been writing about technology for more than 30 years. A former Fleet Street, Journalist He wrote the Award Winning Series on the Federated Ships Painters + Dockers Union for the Bulletin that led to a Royal Commission. He is also a Logie Winner. for Outstanding Contribution To TV Journalism with a story called The Werribee Affair. In 1997, he built the largest Australian technology media Company and prior to that the third largest PR Company that became the foundation Company for Ogilvy PR. Today he writes about technology and the impact on both business and consumers.